Protective effect of vitamin B complex in diabetic peripheral neuropathy - Histopathological study

Vitamin B complex has been used for peripheral neuropathy for a long time and continues to be part of current practice despite lack of strong evidence for its use and its non-inclusion in treatment guidelines. So this study was carried out to verify the neuroprotective effect of vitamin B complex from morphological changes of the diabetic rat sciatic nerve. A total number of 30 adult male albino rats were used and divided into three groups. Group I: normal vehicle control (N=10). Group II: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (N=20), which is equally divided into two subgroups; IIa (diabetic vehicle control) and IIb (diabetic vitamin B complex-treated, at a dose of 1mg/kg/day for 6 weeks).Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 80mg/kg. Specimens from sciatic nerve were processed for light, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry investigations. Morphological indices including the average myelin sheath thickness, the average myelinated nerve fiber area, endoneurial capillary density and perineurial index were measured and statistically analysed. Vitamin B complex treatment for six weeks markedly protected the sciatic nerve from the deleterious effect of hyperglycemia and preserved normal structural features of the perineurium, Schwann cells and their myelin sheath, nerve fibers, blood capillaries and the interstitium. The results were verified by immunohistochemistry (using CD 31, CD 68 and anti caspase-3 antibodies) and the morphological indices including the myelin sheath thickness, perineurial index and endoneurial capillary density. In conclusion, vitamin B complex supplementation might provide a long-term, drug approach for protection from diabetic peripheral neuropathy

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Lesional skin vascular endothelial growth factor levels correlate with clinical severity in patients with cement allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis to cement is a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in which cytokines interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] may be involved in persisting erythema and oedema. VEGF and IFN-gamma levels in serum and skin lesions were measured in 32 Egyptian building workers with chronic allergic contact dermatitis due to occupational exposure to cement and 20 healthy controls. Dermatitis patients had significantly higher levels of serum and lesional skin VEGF and IFN-gamma than controls. A significant positive correlation was found between tissue VEGF and the eczema area and severity index [EASI] score in dermatitis patients [r = 0.86]. VEGF and IFN-gamma may play a role in the pathogenesis of cement allergic contact dermatitis

Hepatitis C virus infection among paediatric patients attending University of Assiut Hospital, Egypt

Few studies have evaluated the epidemiology and risk factors of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection in children in Egypt. This study of 465 children attending Assiut University Hospital measured the rates of anti-HCV positivity by 3rd-generation ELISA test and of HCV-RNA positivity by PCR, with analysis of some relevant risk factors. The rate of HCV-RNA positivity among ELISA-positive cases [n = 121] was 72.2% overall: 100% in the subgroup with hepatitis, 70.8% in those with a history of multiple transfusions and 58.3% in those without hepatitis or multiple transfusions. History of blood transfusions, frequent injections, hospitalization or surgical procedures were significant risk factors for anti-HCV positivity by ELISA

Cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus as risk factors for erectile dysfunction in upper Egypt

Erectile dysfunction impairs the quality of life of millions of men worldwide. This study aimed to determine the relationship between selected clinical risk factors and erectile dysfunction in men residing in upper Egypt. Patients were surveyed with the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF-5] and assessed for the presence of hypertension, diabetes and smoking. Of 658 men with erectile dysfunction, 17.3% had hypertension, 21.4% had diabetes and 40.1% were smokers, whereas among 821 age-matched controls without erectile dysfunction, the corresponding figures were 2.8%, 3.7% and 28.7%. Multivariate analysis showed that hypertension [OR = 5.4], diabetes mellitus [OR = 5.4] and smoking [OR = 3.1] were significant risk factors for erectile dysfunction

Corrected QT dispersion improves diagnostic performance of exercise testing in diagnosing coronary artery disease

To determine the best combination of parameters that would improve the diagnostic performance of exercise testing, coronary angiography plus exercise testing were done on 112 patients with angina pectoris and normal electrocardiogram. The univariate predictors of coronary artery disease included: age >/= 40 years, male sex, hypertension, smoking, development of exertional chest pain, decrease in systolic blood pressure [BP] >/= 10 mmHg or systolic BP 3 min post-exercise > 90% of peak, heart rate drop < 12 beats/min 1 min post-exercise, exercise-induced ST-segment depression >/= 1mm. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that using either ST depression >/= 1mm or peak exercise QTDc > 70 ms significantly improved sensitivity and negative predictive value of the test without a significant decrease in specificity

Pattern and possible contributing factors to dialysis-associated arrhythmia in young patients

We studied dialysis-associated arrhythmia in 48 uraemic patients < 35 years on chronic haemodialysis [HD] [> 3 months]. Holter findings showed only minor arrhythmia; atrial in 42% of patients and ventricular in 38%. ST-segment depression > 1 mm was observed in 58% of patients; 80% had arrhythmia, and 36% experienced anginal pain. HD caused a significant increase in QTc, QTdc and Ca[2+] level, while K[+] level was significantly decreased. Patients who experienced arrhythmia during HD had higher left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index, lower post-dialysis K+ level, higher QTc and QTdc both before and after HD. They were more frequently hypertensive. ST-segment depression was significantly related to ventricular arrhythmia